Abstrakt

A Short Note on Perceptions of Health Care Providers Strategies to Limit Out-of Pocket Costs for Cancer Care

M. Mathews

The perceptions of health care providers concerning patient and health care provider strategies to limit out-of-pocket costs for cancer care. Patients try to minimize costs by substituting or rationing medications, choosing radical treatments, lengthening the time between follow-up appointments, choosing inpatient care, and working during treatment to minimize loss of income. Providers respond to the financial concerns of patients by helping them to access financial assistance programs, by changing chemotherapy and supportive drug prescriptions, and by shortening radiation treatment protocols [1]. They admit patients to hospital and arrange follow-up with physicians closer to a patient’s home.